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 Samiha
Khanna, a 2003 journalism graduate who had been working in a
temporary position at the Raleigh News & Observer since May, was
hired to cover the News & Observer's Durham police beat. In announcing
the appointment, Linda Williams of the N&O wrote, "Samiha is
versatile, fast on her feet and always on the hunt for the right
detail that makes a good story. She impressed us with her care for
writing, her natural curiosity, her work ethic and her understanding
of what makes a good story."
Khanna had
already been covering the challenging Durham beat a few days a month
in her work as a temporary replacement for full-time reporter who
was on leave. "I'm up for the challenge," She said. "I'm
prepared to work really hard. I am committed to reporting this beat
outside of the office. My personal mantra will be, 'Work the beat
on the streets.'" Khanna concentrated her effort to earn the
position. "I sold myself to the bosses, wrote a beat proposal
and told them that I am willing to do anything to make the beat
work," she said. "So, that's what I'll do." Her e-mail
address is skhanna@newsobserver.com.
Matesic
moves to WTAJ-TV
Emily Matesic, a 1999 graduate, has moved to WTAJ-TV, the
CBS affiliate in Altoona, Pa. She'd spent the previous two and a
half years as a weekend anchor/weekday reporter at WENY, the ABC
affiliate in Elmira, N.Y. "It was nearly an 80-market jump
and moved me closer to home and my family," said Matesic. "I'm
the weekday nightside reporter based out of our main station in
Altoona (we have four other bureau offices in our viewing area).
It's a real joy for me to be working here. We have multiple live
trucks and a satellite truck, and being the only nightside reporter
I'm always going live from the field. It's a big step up."
Matesic won a first-place award in a New York Associated Press broadcast
competition last summer for a 90-minute special she produced to
commemorate the first anniversary of the September 11th attacks.
Her e-mail address is emilymatesic@journalism.com.
Medders
Turner earns master's; writes copy
Amy Medders Turner, a 1999 graduate, is living in Centreville,
Va., where she works as a direct-mail copy writer for Hecht's, a
division of the May Company - owner of many U.S. department stores.
She writes content for catalogs, flyers and other Hecht's external
communications. She earned her master's degree in mass communication
and journalism from the University of Georgia, then began with Hecht's.
Her e-mail address is amturner77@cox.net.
Hamlin
produces SPEED promos
Brendon
Hamlin, a 1992 graduate, is the senior writer/producer in the
on-air promotions department for the SPEED channel. The cable/satellite
television channel is one of the Fox networks, and its main offices
are located in Charlotte. His e-mail address is bhamlin@speedtv.com.
Messier
working on MTV show
Jessica
Messier, a 2003 graduate, works in MTV's Music and Talent Development
division in New York. "I am currently working on a monthly
series called 'Advanced Warning' that airs on MTV and MTV2,"
she said. "The show breaks new artists and bands that we think
are going to be big in the coming months. I am also working at the
radio station Z100 on the weekends just for fun (www.z100.com).
It's a great job. When it was presented to me I just couldn't pass
it up even if I do work six to seven days a week. Everything in
NYC is going really well." Her e-mail address is Jessica.Messier@mtvstaff.com.
Matthews
moves to Advice Unlimited
Danielle
Matthews, a 2003 graduate, recently left Smithsonian Business
Ventures to join Advice Unlimited, a woman-owned public relations
firm in Olney, Md. "As a public relations assistant and account
coordinator, I am responsible for tracking press hits on a daily
basis," she said. "I search government Web sites and publications
such as The Business Journal or Federal Computer Week. I also provide
logistical support as well as proofread company proposals and press
releases. I also work with the accounts for the USO (United Service
Organization) and Handy Soft." Her e-mail address is: danielle@adviceunlimited.net.
Hetherington
puts stars to work for products
Brian
Hetherington works with Retail Sports Marketing Inc. in Charlotte,
working with accounts being managed for Wal-Mart, NAPA, Camping
World, Energizer, Remington, Klaussner and NASCAR. "I have
had the opportunity to attend my first Charlotte NASCAR race; I
have been to Nashville, Wal-Mart Headquarters, concerts and more,"
he said. "The work that we do here really varies from one account
to another. We have lined up NAPA auto parts with Alan Jackson to
become the official sponsor of his 2004 tour. RSM was involved with
getting Dale Earnhardt Jr. to endorse Wrangler jeans - next year
Wal-mart will have a new line of Dale Jr. Jeans, so be on the lookout."
Hetherington's e-mail address is brianh@retailsportsmarketing.com.
Cooper
with Big South Conference
Lauren Cooper, a 2002 grad, has been named assistant director
of public relations for the Big South Conference. Cooper's duties
began Jan. 1. She worked with the Elon Athletics program as a student,
spent some time working in the Wake Forest sports information office
and was recently assistant sports information director at Longwood
University in Farmville, Va. She will be living and working in Charlotte,
N.C. Her e-mail address is coops3980@hotmail.com.
Cater
moves to Business Journal
Michelle Cater Rash, a 1999 graduate, left her work as a reporter
at the Rockingham County bureau of the Greensboro News & Record
in August to become Focus reporter for the Business Journal Serving
the Greater Triad. She had been at the N&R for about four years.
"I write trend stories and features for the weekly paper and
for special sections," she said. "I also occasionally
cover breaking news." Her e-mail address is mrash@bizjournals.com.
Petrini
earns promotion in Concord
Andi Petrini was promoted to community editor for the Concord/Kannapolis,
N.C., Independent Tribune. Her position falls third in the newsroom
chain of command, behind the editor and news editor, and she is
responsible for editing and designing the paper's Teen, Food & Home,
Travel, A&E, Health & Fitness and Lifestyle pages. She is also in
charge of the paper's internship program and handles special sections.
"It's a pretty big move for only being here six months,"
she said. "But the timing seems right, and it's a good career
move for me." Her e-mail address is apetrini55@hotmail.com.
Botty
is in graduate school
Kate Botty, a 2002 journalism graduate, is earning a master's
degree in elementary education at the University of Bridgeport.
"I substitute teach, and in return the school district pays
for my classes," she said. "It has been an excellent learning
experience. I am earning a master's degree without having to pay
for it and I am gaining classroom experience. The difficult part
is that I am also a full-time student." Botty will complete
the program within the next year. Her e-mail address is katebotty@yahoo.com.
Van
Hook reviewing films
Mark Van Hook, a 2003 journalism graduate, is a contributing
author on DVD Verdict, a web site that assesses the quality of DVD
releases. His work can be found on the site http://www.dvdverdict.com.
If you would like to reach Mark, you can send e-mail to Ash932@aol.com.
Brady's
film hits the festival circuit
 A
film made by 2003 graduate Steve Brady in a School of Communications
course was shown at independent film festivals in Los Angeles and
New York this fall. The title of the work is "Music Culture
of the Appalachian."
Brady was the
writer, director, cinematographer, editor, producer and narrator
of the movie, produced for an Elon course taught by John Duvall.
"This is my tribute to these people and their music in hopes
of keeping this tradition and culture alive for years to come,"
said Brady. He explained that he shot the film in West Virginia.
It also features Dr. Malvin Artley of Elon University, a music educator
who has helped keep Appalachian music alive through recordings.
For more on the film, check out the web site http://www.nyfilmvideo.com.
 A
native of Hollywood, Fla., Brady began making movies with his brothers
and cousins at the age of 12. While at Elon University, he majored
in communications with a film concentration. His entry in the 2002
Elon Film Festival, "Alone and in the Dark," was nominated
for three awards. He also shot his original comedy "The Business
Game."
After graduation,
Brady went to work for WFMY News 2, the CBS affiliate in Greensboro,
where he works as a video editor. His e-mail address is stbrady23@yahoo.com.
Deiboldt
lands a spot at Disney
Allison Deiboldt, a 2002 graduate, is now working as a research
analyst for ABC Kids, a division of Disney. She had been working
in New York as a researcher for Petry Media Corp., a subsidiary
of Blair Media. Deiboldt has been hired by Disney to work with the
vice president of research for ABC Kids. Her portfolio will include
programming on ABC, the Family Channel, Disney Channel and Toon
Disney. She will still be located in New York. Her e-mail address
is Allison.Deiboldt@disney.com
Two
Elon grads key at 'The View'
1998 graduate Allison Storelli and 2002 graduate Emily
Coons are working in key behind-the-scenes positions on ABC-TV's
popular morning talk show "The View." The program features
Barbara Walters, Meredith Viera, Joy Behar and Star Jones.
As a student
at Elon, Storelli had worked in a New York internship for the soap
opera "The City" when it was situated in what is now the
production headquarters for "The View." It's a strange
coincidence, because there was no direct tie between the shows -
only Storelli. "After graduation I was pretty lazy," she
said. "I was looking for production assistant jobs with no
real experience. I didn't get too many job offers. I got a call
from a family friend who was with the prop department - he had heard
that 'The View' needed a receptionist. Within days, I was working."
She spent three months in the receptionist job, was promoted to
production assistant and now, five years later, she is an associate
producer. "The best advice I can give anyone is that you are
not above any job," she said. "Just get your foot in the
door!"
Coons is the
associate audience coordinator, responsible for filling 200 seats
a day. "It's like customer relations," she explained.
She completed three internships while at Elon, include work at public
TV station WETA in Washington, D.C.; a productive position in event-planning
with Carlson Marketing Group; and a stint at "The View."
That last place was the one that hooked her. "I started working
at 'The View' a week after graduation, and I am still here,"
she said. "What helped me get this job was keeping in touch
with my contacts and writing thank-you notes. It never hurts to
send a personal note; no one does it any more, so it's a nice touch
and people remember you for it."
If you would
like to reconnect with Storelli or Coons, their e-mail addresses
are: Allison.Storelli@abc.com and Emily.Coons@abc.com.
Kellen Taylor
at MSNBC
2003 graduate Kellen Taylor turned a 2002 summer internship
at MSNBC into a full-time job. She is now working as a production
assistant at the cable news network on its weekend morning show.
"It's a total start-up job but it is going well," she
said. "The anchor is Alex Witt who helped me get the job and
was an awesome contact, and we definitely have talked about where
to go from here." In addition to her production work on Saturdays
and Sundays, she fulfills many roles in the newsroom from 7 a.m.
to 3 p.m. on Thursdays and Fridays, helping all of the writers do
various tasks, from making graphics to cutting tape. She works 12-hour
shifts on her big weekend production days, beginning at 1 a.m. Saturdays.
"Our show is on for five of those 12 hours, and I do anything
from printing scripts to stacking tape to doing graphics to manning
the control room. I have written some stories and they have been
aired." Taylor's e-mail address is Kellen.Taylor@MSNBC.com.
Baggott
in D.C. doing marketing
Katherine Baggott, a 2003 graduate, is employed by the Washington,
D.C., for Corporate Executive Board, a company doing research across
many industries, providing best-practices research, executive education
and decision-support tools. "My position is in the marketing
department, but I'll also be doing some research for new clients,"
she said. "I'm excited about this job, because I feel as if
I will be able to keep learning about the field of communications."
She said she used projects from her Elon courses in her job interviews
- especially work from the senior seminar course, and she sent her
thanks to Dr. Connie Book. "Thanks for giving us work that
we could use in the future!" she said. Baggott's address is
kbaggott@excite.com.
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